Greenfield-Central’s Bryce Kinnaman, right, scored eight goals last season.
Rob Baker | For The Daily Reporter
GREENFIELD — Picking up where they left off, as opposed to how they started, would be the preferred route for the Greenfield-Central boys soccer team.
A year ago, the Cougars got off to an 0-6 start.
Injuries, COVID-19 quarantine and an extremely tough schedule all played a part of the rough beginning.
It wasn’t the norm for a program that has won eight sectional titles, including four straight from 2016-19.
The schedule is tough again in 2022, but the lineup is more veteran with 14 seniors.
The Cougars are hopeful to get back to more winning ways.
“Their sophomore and junior years have been difficult,” assistant coach Matt McConnell said. “We were flattened by COVID-19 restrictions. In some ways, these boys have less experience. In other ways, they have a different set and a lot more experience in dealing with adversity that was different than any other year.
“We’re looking forward to a group that will show a lot of maturity and hasn’t had the chance to show a full look, the last two years, on how good they can be.”
They finished strong in 2021. After early struggles, the Cougars won six of their final nine. They finished 5-2 in Hoosier Heritage Conference matches and shared the league title with New Palestine, Pendleton Heights and Yorktown.
Included during that stretch were wins over both Mt. Vernon and New Palestine. The team is currently in possession of the Rob Thomas Trophy (a traveling prize for county vs. county matches) and the HHC Victory Bell, a similar trophy for conference clashes.
Bryce Kinnaman, a four-year varsity forward, is the top returning scorer. He had eight goals and three assists during his junior season. Senior midfielder Drew Davidson had three goals and one assist.
Another senior forward, Dalton Evanoff, returns after missing his junior campaign.
The Cougars are expected to have an all-senior midfield, which includes Davidson, Joe Findley and Ethan Hollis. The defense is senior dominant, too. Tyler Kerkhof, who started the season as a third-teamer, was an All-HHC player. Others on the back line are centerback Garrett Hollis, twin brother of Ethan, and Hunter Stine.
“We return a lot of talent in the senior class,” McConnell added.
The assistant coach said the team will miss graduated two-year captain John Halvorsen. He joined Kerkhof, Kinnaman and Stine on the All-HHC team. Halvorsen was honorable mention all-state and all-district.
Not as experienced as the others, but the Cougars like the play of sophomore goalkeeper Jordin Jones.
“He’s an athletic goalkeeper and we’re really excited about him,” McConnell said. “He’s fun and brings so much life to everything in and out of the goal box. He’s a larger than life personality and we look forward to a good sophomore campaign out of him.”
That strong schedule begins on the road Saturday at Lawrence North. The home opener is Tuesday, August 16 against Ben Davis. Greenfield-Central plays host to the Cougar Cup on Saturday, Aug. 20,. The tournament includes Decatur Central, East Central and Franklin Central. East Central beat the Cougars in the sectional last season.
The Victory Bell will be on the line Aug. 25 in a home contest with co-HHC champ Yorktown. The Thomas Trophy will be up for grabs on Sept. 8 at Mt. Vernon.
“We play the toughest schedule we’ve ever played by far,” McConnell added. “We like to play the best in the state and push our team to be that good and compete with all of them.”
